Chicago, IL: The oral administration of synthetic THC reduces symptoms of sleep apnea, according to clinical trial data published online in the scientific journal Frontiers in Psychiatry. Sleep apnea is a medical disorder characterized by frequent interruptions in breathing of up to ten seconds or more during sleep. The condition is associated with numerous physiological disorders, including fatigue, headaches, high blood pressure, irregular heartbeat, heart attack and stroke.

Investigators at the University of Illinois at Chicago, Department of Medicine assessed the safety, tolerability, and efficacy of dronabinol (oral THC in sesame seed oil) in 17 subjects with Obstructive Sleep Apnea.

Oral THC administration was associated with a significant change in Apnea Hypopnea Index over a 21-day period. Authors further determined dronabinol treatment to be safe and well tolerated.

They concluded, "These findings should be confirmed in a larger study in order to identify sub-populations with OSA that may benefit from cannabimimetic pharmacologic therapy."

Dronabinol, marketed under the trade name Marinol, is FDA-approved to treat nausea and vomiting caused by chemotherapy.

For more information, please contact Paul Armentano, NORML Deputy Director, at: paul@norml.org. Full text of the study, "Proof of concept trial of dronabinol in obstructive sleep apnea," is available in Frontiers in Psychiatry.